Steve Backley is to use Gateshead's athletics showpiece next month as the platform for his final assault on the World and Olympic javelin titles.

Backley, a four-time European and three-time Commonwealth champion, is set to retire after next year's Olympic Games in Athens.

The 34-year-old will build a slimmed down summer schedule round the season's two big domestic dates - the Norwich Union Super League in Gateshead on July 13 and the Norwich Union London Grand Prix in August.

And the Sidcup thrower hopes the home-based approach will help him to claim the two titles to have eluded him.

"I've got medals in the World Championships and Olympics but I'd love to strike gold," admitted Backley. "I'm one of half a dozen guys capable of winning these titles but it all depends what happens on the day. The javelin is like that.

"The British meetings have all the world class competitors but there is also a comfort in familiarity for the home-based guys. It's a confidence game.

"Such meets provide the perfect transition through to the major championships.

"Added to that, I have very fond memories of Gateshead - I threw 89 metres there in 1998."

Backley admits he has yet to decide what route his career will take after the Athens Olympics and, unlike British team-mate Jonathan Edwards, he plans to concentrate 100 per cent on his event until the day comes to retire.

Jonathan revealed in my exclusive Face To Face interview in last night's Chronicle that winning is no longer an obsession and he is concentrating on a blossoming new career in television, adding "I'm at the end of one life and the beginning of another."

Backley added: "That Jonathan has been able to take on so many other things says everything about the slight buffer he has between him and the rest in his event.

"I'm right in the thick of it in the javelin and the next 18 months are all about getting the head down and giving it one final effort."

Edwards, on the other hand, has already won every title available to him - Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth as well as being the current world record holder.

Backley still has dreams to realise even this late in his career.

* Tickets for the Gateshead meet are available by telephoning 0870-4444440 or going online at www.ukathletics.net